A priceless 3,000-year-old bracelet belonging to ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Amenemope has been stolen from Cairo’s Egyptian Museum and shockingly melted down for gold, sparking national outrage.

Theft from Egypt’s oldest museum

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy announced on Saturday (Sep 22) that the bracelet was taken on September 9 from a safe while artifacts were being prepared for an exhibition in Italy. The Egyptian Museum, the oldest archaeological museum in the Middle East, houses more than 170,000 artefacts, including Amenemope’s famous gilded funerary mask.

How the bracelet was lost forever

According to the ministry, a restoration specialist stole the piece and sold it to a jeweler for $3,735 (£2,750). The jeweler then resold it to a gold foundry worker for $4,025, who later melted it down. CCTV footage released by authorities shows a shop owner weighing the bracelet and handing cash to one of the suspects.

Arrests and investigation

Four suspects have been arrested and confessed to their involvement. Authorities seized the money earned from the theft and confirmed that legal proceedings will follow.

Historical value destroyed

The golden bracelet, decorated with spherical lapis lazuli beads, dated back to the reign of Pharaoh Amenemope, who ruled Egypt around 1,000 BC. Immediately after the disappearance, Egyptian authorities circulated images of the bracelet across airports, seaports, and land borders to prevent smuggling.

National and cultural outrage

The revelation that such a rare artefact was melted down for its raw gold value has caused widespread anger in Egypt and among historians worldwide. Many say the loss represents not just theft but an irretrievable destruction of heritage.